A black bear was sighted roaming Middletown Township on Thursday morning, according to authorities.
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Township police confirmed a bear was spotted in the vicinity of Teal Drive and the PECO high-voltage power lines. The location is not far from Maple Point Middle School, Middletown Township Community Park, Core Creek Park and several wooded areas.
Police deployed a drone in an attempt to locate the bear but were unsuccessful.
As a precaution, students at Maple Point Middle School and Core Creek Elementary School were kept indoors, police said.
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A warden from the Pennsylvania Game Commission was dispatched to the area after the sighting.
The Middletown Township sighting comes after social media reports of a bear in neighboring Newtown Township.
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It is not uncommon for bears to venture into Lower Bucks County during the spring.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers the below tips if you encounter a bear:
Alert the bear — If you see a bear, make some noise to alert the bear of your presence, giving it ample time and space to turn and leave. Avoid being caught up in the excitement of seeing a bear and inadvertently letting the bear get too close before surprising it.
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Get back — If you have a close encounter, back away slowly while facing the bear so you always know where the bear is and how its reacting. Wild bears rarely attack people. Slowly backing away diffuses the situation and gives the bear room to flee.
Stay calm — encountering a bear can be startling, but try to remain calm. While moving away, avoid sudden movements and talk to help the bear keep track of your retreat. Don’t turn and run or attempt to climb a tree. Running may prompt the bear to give chase, and climbing a tree could be interpreted as a threat to any cubs that are present since cubs often climb trees when startled. Move toward your camper, house or vehicle if nearby.
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Pay attention — Bears will use all of their senses to figure out what you are. If they recognize you as a person, some may stand upright or move closer in their efforts to detect odors in the air currents. Don’t consider this a sign of aggression. Once a bear identifies you, it will usually leave. If it begins to slowly approach you, face the bear, wave your arms wildly and shout while continuing to back away. The idea is to intimidate the bear into retreating. Swing a stick, your backpack or whatever is handy if the bear gets close.
If suddenly surprised, some bears may feel threatened and give warning signs that they are uncomfortable. They may clack their jaws together or sway their head; those are signs for you to leave. Some bears have been known to charge to within a few feet when threatened. If this occurs, wave your arms wildly and shout at the bear.
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Fight back — Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear attacks, fight back. Bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars and even their bare hands.
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